S.2426 - A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, and for other purposes.114th Congress (2015-2016)

Text available as:

Shown Here:Public Law No: 114-139 (03/18/2016)

[114th Congress Public Law 139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 313]]
TAIWAN INTERPOL OBSERVER STATUS
[[Page 130 STAT. 314]]
Public Law 114-139
114th Congress
An Act
To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain
observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police
Organization, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Mar. 18, 2016 - [S.
2426]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL
POLICE ORGANIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Safety, security and peace is important to every citizen
of the world, and shared information ensuring wide assistance
among police authorities of nations for expeditious
dissemination of information regarding criminal activities
greatly assists in these efforts.
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in the
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is
beneficial for all nations and their police authorities.
Internationally shared information with authorized police
authorities is vital to peacekeeping efforts.
(3) With a history dating back to 1914, the role of INTERPOL
is defined in its constitution: ``To ensure and promote the
widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police
authorities within the limits of the laws existing in the
different countries and in the spirit of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.''.
(4) Ongoing international threats, including international
networks of terrorism, show the ongoing necessity to be ever
inclusive of nations willing to work together to combat criminal
activity. The ability of police authorities to coordinate,
preempt, and act swiftly and in unison is an essential element
of crisis prevention and response.
(5) Taiwan maintained full membership in INTERPOL starting
in 1964 through its National Police Administration but was
ejected in 1984 when the People's Republic of China (PRC)
applied for membership.
(6) Nonmembership prevents Taiwan from gaining access to
INTERPOL's I-24/7 global police communications system, which
provides real-time information on criminals and global criminal
activities. Taiwan is relegated to second-hand information from
friendly nations, including the United States.
(7) Taiwan is unable to swiftly share information on
criminals and suspicious activity with the international
community, leaving a huge void in the global crime-fighting
efforts and leaving the entire world at risk.
[[Page 130 STAT. 315]]
(8) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review,
declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in
appropriate international organizations and has consistently
reiterated that support.
(9) Following the enactment of Public Law 108-235, a law
authorizing the Secretary of State to initiate and implement a
plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the
annual summit of the World Health Assembly and subsequent
advocacy by the United States, Taiwan was granted observer
status to the World Health Assembly for six consecutive years
since 2009. Both prior to and in its capacity as an observer,
Taiwan has contributed significantly to the international
community's collective efforts in pandemic control, monitoring,
early warning, and other related matters.
(10) INTERPOL's constitution allows for observers at its
meetings by ``police bodies which are not members of the
Organization''.
(b) Taiwan's Participation in INTERPOL.--The Secretary of State
shall--
(1) develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan
in INTERPOL and at other related meetings, activities, and
mechanisms thereafter; and
(2) instruct INTERPOL Washington to officially request
observer status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and to actively urge
INTERPOL member states to support such observer status and
participation for Taiwan.
(c) Report Concerning Observer Status for Taiwan in INTERPOL.--Not
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report, in unclassified form,
describing the United States strategy to endorse and obtain observer
status for Taiwan in appropriate international organizations, including
INTERPOL, and at other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms
thereafter. The report shall include the following:
(1) A description of the efforts the Secretary has made to
encourage member states to promote Taiwan's bid to obtain
observer status in appropriate international organizations,
including INTERPOL.
(2) A description of the actions the Secretary will take to
endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan in appropriate
[[Page 130 STAT. 316]]
international organizations, including INTERPOL, and at other
related meetings, activities, and mechanisms thereafter.
Approved March 18, 2016.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2426:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):
Mar. 8, considered and passed Senate.
Mar. 14, considered and passed House.
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